A controversy has erupted in Delhi over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. RJD leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav claimed his name was missing from the draft voter list in Bihar. The Election Commission dismissed his claim as baseless. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also become vocal about the issue. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra stated that Tejashwi attempted to spread confusion through a press conference. Patra questioned how Tejashwi could possess two EPIC numbers.
The controversy escalated after the release of the draft voter list by the commission. Sambit Patra said in a press conference, “For some years, the opposition has been falsely attacking constitutional institutions, and this is their conspiracy. Tejashwi Yadav spread confusion through his press conference yesterday. Tejashwi said that when I entered my EPIC number on the Election Commission website, my name was not appearing. He said that my name has been removed. I will not be able to contest elections.” Patra further asked, “How did Tejashwi get 2 EPIC numbers? Does Tejashwi have 2 voter ID cards? This is a heinous crime. This is a mockery of the country’s democracy. Has he created a fake voter card somewhere? The voter ID number he used in the 2020 election and the one he has this time are the same.”
Patra stated, “When the leaders are in this state, how many voter ID cards will the workers have? He said that a conspiracy was being hatched to spread confusion on the main voter list.” Patra questioned whether the opposition was opposing SIR for this reason, as they possessed two voter ID cards. He added that he had brought the last two election affidavits of Tejashwi Yadav to the public. Attacking dynastic politics, Patra said that those in the RJD and Congress-led grand alliance believe that the family must survive, regardless of whether democracy does. The Election Commission dismissed Tejashwi’s claim as baseless. Sources associated with the commission stated that an investigation is ongoing to understand the ‘reality’ behind the other voter ID. Election Commission sources said that Tejashwi Yadav used EPIC number RAB 0456228 to fill his nomination papers in 2020. An official said that this same voter ID card number was also recorded in the voter list in 2015. His name is present in the draft with this voter ID card number.
